May 15, 2013
Highlanders 12 – Toreros 11
In the midst of a seven-game losing streak, the UC Riverside baseball team was able to pull out one of the best wins in the team’s history against the visiting University of San Diego Toreros.
After a scoreless first inning, the Toreros found themselves on the board first with a run in the top of the second. San Diego continued piling onto its lead with two more runs in the top of the third. UCR finally got on the board at the bottom of the third when David Andriese’s single allowed Devyn Bolasky to score, 1-3.
UC Riverside tallied another run in the fourth to cut the Torero lead to 3-2, but San Diego’s offense opened the floodgates in the top of the fifth, scoring six straight runs to take control of the match with a 9-3 lead. The Toreros then proceeded to score two more in the top of the sixth to take an impressive 11-3 lead.
The Highlanders did not let up, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth and three in the seventh to cut the lead to 11-9. Pitchers Trevor Frank and Antonio Gonzales performed masterfully in the final four innings of the game, shutting out the Toreros while the Highlanders scored two runs in the eighth and ninth to even the score at 11-11.
In a decisive 10th inning, Trevor Frank once again retired three Torero batters setting the stage for the Highlanders’ comeback. With a batter on base, Clayton Prestridge smacked a grounder to right field, which scored a runner and brought the entire team to the field to celebrate their monumental win.
May 17, 2013
Dirtbags 5 – Highlanders 0
Coming off a thrilling 12-11 victory over San Diego, the UC Riverside baseball team laid a 5-0 goose egg against the Long Beach State Dirtbags.
Long Beach State got on the board first with a Zach Miller single that led to a sacrifice bunt by Jonathan Serven, which subsequently scored an RBI for the Dirtbags.
Though UCR found itself with many scoring opportunities, the team squandered all of them and the Dirtbags’ lead remained 1-0 through five innings. In the bottom of the sixth, a wild pitch by pitcher Dylan Stuart allowed Zack Rivera and Ino Patron to cross home plate, increasing Long Beach’s lead to 3-0.
The dynamic duo of Rivera and Patron would strike again in the bottom of the eighth as they added two more insurance runs for the Dirtbags.
May 18, 2013
Dirtbags 5 – Highlanders 4
Three runs in the top of the ninth were not enough for the UC Riverside baseball team as they nearly erased a four-run advantage by the Long Beach State Dirtbags in a heartbreaking 5-4 loss.
Long Beach State jumped out to an early lead with two runs at the bottom of the first, followed by two additional runs plated in the bottom of the third inning. After a Jeff McNeil run, the Dirtbags increased the margin to a commanding 5-0 lead over the UC Riverside Highlanders.
The Highlanders ensured that they would not be shut out again with a Matthew Ellis run that came off a Joe Chavez single to left field.
Not much action came in the sixth through eighth innings, as both teams were able to hold each other scoreless.
UCR proved its resilience in the top of the ninth, as they scored three straight runs from Phil Holinsworth, Alex Rubanowitz and Robby Witt. Long Beach State, however, was able to retire Cody Hough at shortstop as he made his way to third base, subsequently securing the 5-4 victory and halting a miraculous comeback that the Highlanders seemed poised to make.
May 19, 2013
Dirtbags 5 – Highlanders 4
The Riverside baseball team lost another close contest to the Long Beach State Dirtbags on Sunday afternoon, squandering a two-run lead in the ninth inning.
The Highlanders started the game strong thanks in large part to pitcher Zach Varela, who allowed just five hits and one run in six innings of work. With Varela dominating on the mound, UCR got on the board first when Devyn Bolasky crossed the plate on a single to right field.
After both teams scored in the sixth inning, pitcher Trevor Frank entered the game for Varela with the Highlanders leading 3-1. In the seventh inning, Frank gave up a triple to Zack Belanger, which resulted in the Dirtbags cutting the lead to one, 3-2.
Highlander Nick Vilter got the run back in the top of the eighth as his double to right field scored Phil Holinsworth. Frank then retired the Dirtbags in the bottom of the eighth with Riverside leading 4-2 and the win seemingly in hand. UC Riverside then collapsed in the bottom of the ninth as Long Beach State orchestrated a two-running inning that tied the score at four runs apiece. Three consecutive singles in the 10th inning saw the Highlanders give up another run, which resulted in a 5-4 heartbreaking loss for the visiting team.
The baseball team will conclude its regular season with a three-game series against Hawai’i beginning on May 23.
